Scientific Concept for Analyzing the Potential of Energy-Oriented Production Planning and Control in SMEs

The energy industry is in a constant state of change: the expansion of renewable energy, fluctuating energy prices, opportunities for self-generation and storage, and different electricity procurement models. In the internal supply chain of companies, production is often the most energy-intensive area and is therefore strongly influenced by these factors. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular often have difficulties in correctly assessing the impact of these factors and in influencing them with energy flexibility measures (EFMs). Energy-oriented production planning and control (PPC) can help to evaluate the potential of these EFMs and to quantify their effects. This paper presents a scientific concept that combines an energy model, a scheduling model and a logistics model to represent cause-and-effect relationships and to estimate the impact of EFMs on logistical objectives.